Focus management using in-air points

• US 20050052434A1
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Somji, Shiraz, Kolmykov-Zotov, Alexander J., George, Sam J., Balaz, Rudolph, Krantz, Brigette
• Granted Patent: US 7,499,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Stylus “focus” designates or establishes an element or area of a computer interface to receive input (e.g., such as electronic ink). Focus may be used, for example, to prepare the associated element to receive input by “waking” the system from a “stand-by” mode; by triggering increased digitizer polling frequency; by setting up data structures or allocating memory resources to receive input; retrieving data relating to the input or characteristics thereof, etc. Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing stylus focus may include: (a) receiving input indicating that a stylus is located proximate a digitizer; and (b) providing focus to a control element corresponding to the stylus location, e.g., when the stylus is located proximate to and/or in contact with the digitizer. If desired, stylus focus may be maintained separate from and/or concurrent with mouse and/or keyboard focus. Additionally, such systems and methods may accept input from multiple styli and independently and concurrently provide stylus focus with respect to control elements corresponding to the location of each stylus.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving input indicating that a first stylus is located proximate to a digitizer; and

providing focus to a first control element corresponding to a location of the first stylus.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

accepting input in an area of the digitizer representing the first control element.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the input includes electronic ink.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

moving the first stylus away from the digitizer without contacting a surface of the digitizer such that the input indicating first stylus proximity is no longer received; and

withdrawing focus from the first control element.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein prior to providing focus, the method further includes:

determining a location of the first stylus with respect to representations of plural control elements of a user interface on a screen.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing focus includes rendering an enlarged view of at least a portion of a representation of the first control element.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing focus includes providing an enlarged area for accepting input directed to the first control element.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a mouse focus separate from the focus corresponding to the first stylus location.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a keyboard focus separate from the focus corresponding to the first stylus location.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

preparing the first control element to receive input.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the preparing includes increasing a polling frequency in an area of the digitizer corresponding to the first control element.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second input indicating that a second stylus is located proximate to the digitizer.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

providing focus to a second control element corresponding to a location of the second stylus.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein focus to the second control element is provided concurrent with focus to the first control element.

15. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

moving the first stylus from a first area corresponding to the first control element to a second area corresponding to a second control element; and

changing focus from the first control element to the second control element.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the first stylus does not contact a surface of the digitizer prior to moving from the first area to the second area.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the first stylus contacts a surface of the digitizer prior to moving from the first area to the second area.

18. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing at least one of a visual or audio indicator when focus is provided.

19. A method, comprising:

determining whether a first stylus is located proximate to a surface of a digitizer; and

providing focus to a first control element corresponding to a location of the first stylus in response to;

(a) a determination that the first stylus is located proximate to the digitizer, or (b) contact between the first stylus and the surface of the digitizer.

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

determining that the first stylus is located proximate to the digitizer surface and providing the focus in response to this determination.

21. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

sensing contact between the first stylus and the surface of the digitizer and providing the focus in response to the sensing.

22. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

accepting electronic ink or other input in an area of the digitizer representing the first control element.

23. A method according to claim 19, wherein providing focus includes providing an enlarged area for accepting input directed to the first control element.

24. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

preparing the first control element to receive input.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the preparing includes increasing a polling frequency in an area of the digitizer corresponding to the first control element.

26. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

determining whether a second stylus is located proximate to the surface of the digitizer.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:

providing focus to a second control element when a location of the second stylus corresponds to an area of the digitizer representing the second control element in response to;

(a) a determination that the second stylus is located proximate to the digitizer, or (b) contact between the second stylus and the surface of the digitizer.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein focus to the second control element is provided concurrent with focus to the first control element.

29. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

moving the first stylus from a first area corresponding to the first control element to a second area corresponding to a second control element; and

changing focus from the first control element to the second control element.

30. A method according to claim 19, further comprising providing at least one of a visual or audio indicator when focus is provided.

31. A system, comprising:

an input device adapted to generate an input indicating that a first stylus is located proximate to a digitizer; and

a processor programmed and adapted to provide focus to a first control element corresponding to a location of the first stylus.

32. A system according to claim 31, wherein the input device is further adapted to accept input in an area of the digitizer representing the first control element.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein the input includes electronic ink input.

34. A system according to claim 31, wherein the processor is further programmed and adapted to withdraw focus from the first control element when the first stylus is moved away from the digitizer without contacting a surface of the digitizer to an extent such that the input indicating first stylus proximity is no longer received.

35. A system according to claim 31, wherein the processor is further programmed and adapted to determine a location of the first stylus with respect to representations of plural control elements of a user interface on a screen prior to providing the focus.

36. A system according to claim 31, wherein the processor is further programmed and adapted to provide an enlarged area for accepting input directed to the first control element in response to the first control element receiving focus.

37. A system according to claim 31, wherein the processor is further programmed and adapted to maintain a mouse focus separate from the focus corresponding to the first stylus location.

38. A system according to claim 31, wherein the processor is further programmed and adapted to maintain a keyboard focus separate from the focus corresponding to the first stylus location.

39. A system according to claim 31, wherein the processor is further programmed and adapted to prepare the first control element to receive input in response to receiving the focus.

40. A system according to claim 39, wherein the processor is programmed and adapted to prepare the first control element to receive input by increasing a polling frequency in an area of the digitizer corresponding to the first control element.

41. A system according to claim 31, wherein the input device is further adapted to generate a second input indicating that a second stylus is located proximate the digitizer.

42. A system according to claim 41, wherein the processor is further programmed and adapted to provide focus to a second control element corresponding to a location of the second stylus in response to the second input.

43. A system according to claim 42, wherein focus to the second control element is provided concurrent with focus to the first control element.

44. A system according to claim 31, wherein the processor is further programmed and adapted to change focus from the first control element to a second control element when the first stylus is moved from a first area corresponding to the first control element to a second area corresponding to the second control element.

45. A system according to claim 31, wherein the processor is further programmed and adapted to provide at least one of a visual or audio indicator when focus is provided.

46. A system, comprising:

an input device adapted to generate an input indicating when a first stylus is located proximate a surface of a digitizer; and

a processor programmed and adapted to provide focus to a first control element corresponding to a location of the first stylus in response to;

(a) a determination that the first stylus is located proximate to the digitizer, or (b) contact between the first stylus and the surface of the digitizer.

47. A system according to claim 46, wherein the input device is further adapted to accept electronic ink or other input in an area of the digitizer representing the first control element.

48. A system according to claim 46, wherein the processor is further programmed and adapted to provide an enlarged area for accepting input directed to the first control element in response to the first control element receiving focus.

49. A system according to claim 46, wherein the processor is further programmed and adapted to prepare the first control element to receive input in response to receiving the focus.

50. A system according to claim 49, wherein the processor is programmed and adapted to prepare the first control element to receive the input by increasing a polling frequency in an area of the digitizer corresponding to the first control element.

51. A system according to claim 46, wherein the input device is further adapted to generate a second input indicating that a second stylus is located proximate the digitizer.

52. A system according to claim 51, wherein the processor is further programmed and adapted to provide focus to a second control element when a location of the second stylus corresponds to an area of the digitizer representing the second control element in response to:

(a) a determination that the second stylus is located proximate to the digitizer, or (b) contact between the second stylus and the surface of the digitizer.

53. A system according to claim 52, wherein focus to the second control element is provided concurrent with focus to the first control element.

54. A system according to claim 46, wherein the processor is further programmed and adapted to change focus from the first control element to a second control element when the first stylus is moved from a first area corresponding to the first control element to a second area corresponding to the second control element.

55. A system according to claim 46, wherein the processor is further programmed and adapted to provide at least one of a visual or audio indicator when focus is provided.

56. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions stored thereon for performing a method comprising:

receiving input indicating that a first stylus is located proximate to a digitizer; and

providing focus to a first control element corresponding to a location of the first stylus.

57. A computer-readable medium according to claim 56, wherein the method further includes:

accepting electronic ink or other input in an area of the digitizer representing the first control element.

58. A computer-readable medium according to claim 56, wherein the method further includes:

withdrawing focus from the first control element when the first stylus is moved away from the digitizer without contacting a surface of the digitizer such that the input indicating first stylus proximity is no longer received.

59. A computer-readable medium according to claim 56, wherein the method further includes:

providing an enlarged area for accepting input directed to the first control element in response to receiving the focus.

60. A computer-readable medium according to claim 56, wherein the method further includes:

increasing a polling frequency in an area of the digitizer corresponding to the first control element.

61. A computer-readable medium according to claim 56, wherein the method further includes:

receiving a second input indicating that a second stylus is located proximate the digitizer.

62. A computer-readable medium according to claim 61, wherein the method further includes:

providing focus to a second control element corresponding to a location of the second stylus in response to the second input.

63. A computer-readable medium according to claim 56, wherein the method further includes:

changing focus from the first control element to the second control element when the first stylus is moved from a first area corresponding to the first control element to a second area corresponding to a second control element.

64. A computer-readable medium according to claim 56, wherein the method further includes providing at least one of a visual or audio indicator when focus is provided.

65. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions stored thereon for performing a method comprising:

determining whether a first stylus is located proximate to a surface of a digitizer; and

providing focus to a first control element corresponding to a location of the first stylus in response to;

(a) a determination that the first stylus is located proximate to the digitizer, or (b) contact between the first stylus and the surface of the digitizer.

66. A computer-readable medium according to claim 65, wherein the method further includes:

accepting electronic ink or other input in an area of the digitizer representing the first control element.

67. A computer-readable medium according to claim 65, wherein the method further includes:

providing an enlarged area for accepting input directed to the first control element in response to receiving the focus.

68. A computer-readable medium according to claim 65, wherein the method further includes:

increasing a polling frequency in an area of the digitizer corresponding to the first control element.

69. A computer-readable medium according to claim 65, wherein the method further includes:

determining whether a second stylus is located proximate to the surface of the digitizer.

70. A computer-readable medium according to claim 69, wherein the method further includes:

providing focus to a second control element when a location of the second stylus corresponds to an area of the digitizer representing the second control element in response to;

(a) a determination that the second stylus is located proximate to the digitizer, or (b) contact between the second stylus and the surface of the digitizer.

71. A computer-readable medium according to claim 65, wherein the method further includes:

changing focus from the first control element to a second control element when the first stylus is moved from a first area corresponding to the first control element to a second area corresponding to the second control element.

72. A computer-readable medium according to claim 65, wherein the method further includes providing at least one of a visual or audio indicator when focus is provided.